Painting the colours of patriotism

Delhi-based artist Hutansh Verma presented the portrait as part of his Portraits of Patriots project

AHMEDABAD: The Soni family based in Paldi was touched deeply when they got hold of a portrait of late Captain Nilesh Soni, martyred in February 1987 at Siachen during Operation Meghdoot, on Tuesday evening. Delhi-based artist Hutansh Verma presented the portrait as part of his Portraits of Patriots project. “It is a proud moment for me to see that there is someone who is looking after us even after all these years. Verma came to meet us from so far with heart-felt emotions,” said Jagdish Soni, Nilesh’s elder brother. The family has erected a monument in his remembrance near Anjali Crossroads where the martyr’s birth and death anniversaries are celebrated with fellow citizens. Apart from the Soni family, families of Major Rishikesh Ramani and Lance Naik Gopal Singh Bhadoriya will also be receiving similar portraits on June 6 and 7. For Verma, the journey started when his father told him in 2014 that it should be his responsibility to honour martyrs through his art.

“The biggest problem when I started my journey in 2014 was that nobody from my generation knew about our martyrs. I got in touch with the families through internet searches and social media groups and decided to make the heroes’ portraits,” he said. The portraits depict the martyr in black and white against the background of Tricolour, wrapped in which they arrived home. “It is important for us to respect the heroes who have laid their lives for our safety, while serving the nation. Personally, the exercise has helped me become a better man. It tells me that life is bigger than just money,” said Verma. So far, Verma has made over 50 such portraits.